Thursday, October 29th, 2026

Spectrum

Ready, set, go! Ram Racing participates in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competitions

October 28, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing writer Ram Racing is an official multidisciplinary Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student-led team at VCU with 25 to 30 team members. The program began in 2010 after a group of engineering students heard about the Formula SAE competition, according to Ronin Harper, vice president of Ram Racing and a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. Harper had a previous interest in racing, and joined the club after seeing its Instagram post.  “We want to grow as an organization and show off VCU engineering capability,” Harper said. “We look forward to having our racing car VCU-04 compete with schools like VT and UVA. I think that would be our dream.” The idea of creating Formula 1 race cars was initiated by Formula SAE in the ’80s when automotive engineering was a growing field. According to Joe Franzen, president of Ram Racing and fourth-year mechanical and nuclear engineering student, Formula SAE were the leaders who created the automotive industry standards to add student interest.  “I learnt about the club through SOVO fair and engineering student organization fair,” Franzen said. “Joining this club has helped me understand engineering challenges that our competition poses and hone my engineering skills.”  Ram Racing built

A knight out in Monroe Park

October 28, 2026

Wilder Rodriguez, Contributing Writer Knights and squires head into battle as arrows buzz overhead and swords clash. This is not a scene from a history book or a medieval blockbuster, but rather one in Monroe Park, amongst Richmond’s bustling city and its towering buildings.  Instead of steel swords and iron-tipped arrows, these knights and squires are armed with the finest foam in all the realm.  Cambria Battlegames is a Live Action Role Playing community based in Richmond headed by a dedicated group of VCU alums. They host practices each Thursday at 5 p.m. at Monroe Park.  Buck Helmke, also known as Sir Stone Wyndhaven, is a part of the core leadership group who founded Cambria Battlegames. Helmke said that the group began in 2006 when he and his roommates were still students at VCU. While on a camping trip, Helmke’s roommates unexpectedly discovered LARPing and excitedly reintroduced it to him.  The early days consisted of small practices in Monroe with only members of the household, Helmke said. “Our best recruitment is literally just sitting here in the park fighting and people will walk up and ask,” Helmke said. “We’ll teach anybody to fight.” Helmke said that the community attends larger

A hauntingly good look; The special effects artists of Richmond

October 28, 2026

Siloe Brown, Contributing Writer In the fall, the world of special effects makeup takes center stage in Richmond, where artists can show off technical skills in true Halloween spirit. SFX is an art form that uses makeup and prosthetics to create convincing tricks of the eye. It is prevalent in show business, using makeup, props and moving elements to better immerse viewers in a film, music video or magazine imagery. Red Vein Army  Founded by Ryan Sligh, Red Vein Army is an artist collective in Richmond that has haunted the community for the past 15 years.  Sligh and his team work to make their productions as memorable as they are terrifying. He said his love for creating began as a child building haunted houses in his parents’ basement, but he did not pursue SFX as a career until 2011 when he received his first opportunity. Sligh’s first haunt was Scares That Care in Williamsburg, a nonprofit charity organization that raises money to help children in need. It assists with the living and medical expenses of burn survivors and breast cancer patients by hosting events and auctions centered around horror. Sligh said the experience solidified his passion to create the Red

Lights, camera, mayhem: 48 Hour Film Project

October 28, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer Every fall, the 48 Hour Film Project in Richmond hosts a horror film project — with a twist — local filmmakers only have 48 hours to plan, write, shoot and edit their original short films. The Richmond 48HFP began on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and ended on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.  The recruitment process takes place 10 weeks before the films’ creation. 48HFP hosts events during that time to connect possible participants and audition actors to form full teams, including a “how-to” event that provides information on the project and its process.  The films come with the requirement of specific elements involved in the film: a designated character, a prop and a line of dialogue. Lisa Giles, city producer of the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project and VCU alumna, has worked with students in Virginia for over 20 years.  Giles said that 48HFP gives students the opportunity to learn about themselves as filmmakers.  “It’s the best way to put your creativity to the test, to see how you respond under pressure, being in this environment where things are going to go wrong and you have a deadline to meet,” Giles said.  Giles said that

Ready, set, go! Ram Racing participates in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competitions

Spectrum Editor October 28, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing writer Ram Racing is an official multidisciplinary Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student-led team at VCU with 25 to 30 team members. The program began in 2010 after a group of engineering students heard about the Formula SAE competition, according to Ronin Harper, vice president of Ram Racing and a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. Harper had a previous interest in racing, and joined the club after seeing its Instagram post.  “We want to grow as an organization and show off VCU engineering capability,” Harper said. “We look forward to having our racing car VCU-04 compete with schools like VT and UVA. I think that would be our dream.” The idea of creating Formula 1 race cars was initiated by Formula SAE in the ’80s when automotive engineering was a growing field. According to Joe Franzen, president of Ram Racing and fourth-year mechanical and nuclear engineering student, Formula SAE were the leaders who created the automotive industry standards to add student interest.  “I learnt about the club through SOVO fair and engineering student organization fair,” Franzen said. “Joining this club has helped me understand engineering challenges that our competition poses and hone my engineering skills.”  Ram Racing built its first competition car, named VCU-01, in 2017 and participated in the Formula SAE competition in Nebraska that same year. The club later debuted its new car called VCU-02 in 2019. While the first two builds were gas-powered, the VCU-03, which competed in the Formula SAE competition in spring 2026 at Michigan International Speedway, was the first electric race car built by VCU.  Currently, Ram Racing is building its new car, VCU-04, in hopes of competing in 2028 at the Formula SAE competition, where 120 teams are expected to attend. The club receives funding to go to the Formula SAE competition from alumni, the dean, the Department of Engineering and sponsorships from local shops and companies, such as DuPont. Ram Racing recruits new members before seniors graduate to give the new members proper training and skills needed for the team afloat.  Farhan Nahin, an engineering management graduate student, said the program offers students real-world experience that may not be available in classrooms.  “It is well recognized and having that kind of FS experience on our resume shows that we have worked with multi-faceted teams and are able to meet deadlines,” Nahin said.  Nahin said it was one of his most

Ready, set, go! Ram Racing participates in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competitions

October 28, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing writer Ram Racing is an official multidisciplinary Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student-led team at VCU with 25 to 30 team members. The program began in 2010 after a group of engineering students heard about the Formula SAE competition, according to Ronin Harper, vice president of Ram Racing and a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. Harper had a previous interest in racing, and joined the club after seeing its Instagram post.  “We want to grow as an organization and show off VCU engineering capability,” Harper said. “We look forward to having our racing car VCU-04 compete with schools like VT and UVA. I think that would be our dream.” The idea of creating Formula 1 race cars was initiated by Formula SAE in the ’80s when automotive engineering was a growing field. According to Joe Franzen, president of Ram Racing and fourth-year mechanical and nuclear engineering student, Formula SAE were the leaders who created the automotive industry standards to add student interest.  “I learnt about the club through SOVO fair and engineering student organization fair,” Franzen said. “Joining this club has helped me understand engineering challenges that our competition poses and hone my engineering skills.”  Ram Racing built its first competition car, named VCU-01, in 2017 and participated in the Formula SAE competition in Nebraska that same year. The club later debuted its new car called VCU-02 in 2019. While the first two builds were gas-powered, the VCU-03, which competed in the Formula SAE competition in spring 2026 at Michigan International Speedway, was the first electric race car built by VCU.  Currently, Ram Racing is building its new car, VCU-04, in hopes of competing in 2028 at the Formula SAE competition, where 120 teams are expected to attend. The club receives funding to go to the Formula SAE competition from alumni, the dean, the Department of Engineering and sponsorships from local shops and companies, such as DuPont. Ram Racing recruits new members before seniors graduate to give the new members proper training and skills needed for the team afloat.  Farhan Nahin, an engineering management graduate student, said the program offers students real-world experience that may not be available in classrooms.  “It is well recognized and having that kind of FS experience on our resume shows that we have worked with multi-faceted teams and are able to meet deadlines,” Nahin said.  Nahin said it was one of his most

A knight out in Monroe Park

October 28, 2026

Wilder Rodriguez, Contributing Writer Knights and squires head into battle as arrows buzz overhead and swords clash. This is not a scene from a history book or a medieval blockbuster, but rather one in Monroe Park, amongst Richmond’s bustling city and its towering buildings.  Instead of steel swords and iron-tipped arrows, these knights and squires are armed with the finest foam in all the realm.  Cambria Battlegames is a Live Action Role Playing community based in Richmond headed by a dedicated group of VCU alums. They host practices each Thursday at 5 p.m. at Monroe Park.  Buck Helmke, also known as Sir Stone Wyndhaven, is a part of the core leadership group who founded Cambria Battlegames. Helmke said that the group began in 2006 when he and his roommates were still students at VCU. While on a camping trip, Helmke’s roommates unexpectedly discovered LARPing and excitedly reintroduced it to him.  The early days consisted of small practices in Monroe with only members of the household, Helmke said. “Our best recruitment is literally just sitting here in the park fighting and people will walk up and ask,” Helmke said. “We’ll teach anybody to fight.” Helmke said that the community attends larger

A hauntingly good look; The special effects artists of Richmond

October 28, 2026

Siloe Brown, Contributing Writer In the fall, the world of special effects makeup takes center stage in Richmond, where artists can show off technical skills in true Halloween spirit. SFX is an art form that uses makeup and prosthetics to create convincing tricks of the eye. It is prevalent in show business, using makeup, props and moving elements to better immerse viewers in a film, music video or magazine imagery. Red Vein Army  Founded by Ryan Sligh, Red Vein Army is an artist collective in Richmond that has haunted the community for the past 15 years.  Sligh and his team work to make their productions as memorable as they are terrifying. He said his love for creating began as a child building haunted houses in his parents’ basement, but he did not pursue SFX as a career until 2011 when he received his first opportunity. Sligh’s first haunt was Scares That Care in Williamsburg, a nonprofit charity organization that raises money to help children in need. It assists with the living and medical expenses of burn survivors and breast cancer patients by hosting events and auctions centered around horror. Sligh said the experience solidified his passion to create the Red

Lights, camera, mayhem: 48 Hour Film Project

October 28, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer Every fall, the 48 Hour Film Project in Richmond hosts a horror film project — with a twist — local filmmakers only have 48 hours to plan, write, shoot and edit their original short films. The Richmond 48HFP began on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and ended on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.  The recruitment process takes place 10 weeks before the films’ creation. 48HFP hosts events during that time to connect possible participants and audition actors to form full teams, including a “how-to” event that provides information on the project and its process.  The films come with the requirement of specific elements involved in the film: a designated character, a prop and a line of dialogue. Lisa Giles, city producer of the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project and VCU alumna, has worked with students in Virginia for over 20 years.  Giles said that 48HFP gives students the opportunity to learn about themselves as filmmakers.  “It’s the best way to put your creativity to the test, to see how you respond under pressure, being in this environment where things are going to go wrong and you have a deadline to meet,” Giles said.  Giles said that

The art of being understood

October 28, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor A textbook can explain the body, but it cannot contain every experience of living in one. Through color, texture and form, artists communicate what words alone often cannot. “Embodied Knowledge,” a juried exhibition at VCU Health Sciences Library, brings together work that explores the perspectives of disabled artists’ work reflecting experiences of illness, disability, healthcare and survival. The title “Embodied Knowledge,” reflects the understanding people develop through navigating healthcare, including the trial and error involved in finding care teams that listen to and understand them.  Xavier McDaniel, a senior painting and printmaking student and arts and social programming director for VCU’s Disability Advocacy and Accessibility Caucus, curated the exhibition.  “It’s important to highlight that disabled is an umbrella term and that there are many people out there who don’t consider themselves disabled,” McDaniel said. “I always include, ‘Are you neurodivergent? Do you have a chronic condition? Chronic illness?’ Like all of those things fit within this term of being disabled.” The open call attracted 44 artists from the Richmond community, each having the opportunity to submit three pieces. The final exhibition features 19 works. McDaniel said he wanted the space to encourage people’s engagement with what

Inside The Bellwether Garage: How a Church Hill repair shop built a free community stage

October 21, 2026

Emma Benton, Contributing Writer On a typical day, The Bellwether Garage operates as a motorcycle repair shop in Church Hill. Once a month, Grant Mathews and Lauren Albee, owners of The Bellwether Garage, clear enough room for amps, musicians and a crowd, turning the garage and surrounding property into a free neighborhood concert space. The Bellwether Garage Sessions started in 2023 and has grown into an event that draws hundreds of people without ever charging admission. As Bellwether heads deeper into fall and toward colder weather, the series faces a new test: how to preserve the casual, open atmosphere that helped it grow while adapting to shorter days and a crowd that now extends well beyond the immediate neighborhood.  At Bellwether, the shows do not operate like a typical venue, and the garage does not separate performers from the audience with a raised stage, barricade or bar crowd. Musicians play close to the people watching them, while neighbors, families and Richmond concertgoers move through the same space. Mathews and Albee have tried to preserve that neighborhood character as the sessions have grown. They live on the property, which means every concert takes place at their home and inside a residential

Bad Movie Night Club is so bad that it’s good

October 14, 2026

Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer There is not a theater experience quite like Bad Movie Night Club. Viewers are free to react however they like without judgement from the other members. Hosting a screening every Wednesday at 8 p.m., Bad Movie Night shows some truly terrible, high camp movies.  Gabriel Kelso, a fourth-year graphic design student and the club’s founder and president, had the idea to create Bad Movie Night on a whim when he spoke to a friend about his love for bad movies.  Little did Kelso know that so many people share his niche interest and were waiting for a club like this. What constitutes a bad movie? There is a difference between a film being unwatchable versus a film that had good intentions and a substantial budget but failed to meet expectations. Bad Movie Night Club encourages viewers to set aside traditional theater etiquette and embrace the absurdity of the films. “If something particularly ridiculous happens, we’ll probably shout it out and then we talk about it afterwards,” Kelso said. Beckett Dews, a second-year English student and the club’s treasurer and social media manager, joined Kelso after he reached out in need of extra officers. As a longtime

Ghosts of Richmond: Fact, folklore or something more?

October 14, 2026

Aaliyah Sharrock, Contributing Writer With Halloween approaching, ghost stories and tales of haunted places are finding their way back in town. From historic locations surrounded by local legends to paranormal investigators searching for answers, the city’s fascination with the unexplained continues to spark curiosity among residents and visitors alike.  In Richmond, some take their interest in the paranormal further by exploring the history of reportedly haunted locations and unexplained activity.  Transcend Paranormal is a paranormal investigation team based in Richmond. Formed in 2010, they help individuals navigate and understand paranormal activity.  The team conducts investigations at alleged haunted locations. During these events, team members organize participants into smaller groups and lead them through investigations. Many participants are experienced paranormal investigators who bring their own equipment.  The group also conducts free investigations for people seeking help with reported paranormal activity in their homes or surroundings. During these investigations, Transcend Paranormal uses equipment such as K2 meters, maglites and electromagnetic field readers to help examine paranormal activity. Shenia Wong, Transcend Paranormal investigator and owner of Dunnlora Inn, joined the team about three years ago after previously working with another paranormal investigation team. Wong said the team’s supportive atmosphere, curated by Steve Dills,

Wisdom on wheels; Mobile bookstores bring readers together

October 14, 2026

Keneya Pichardo, Contributing Writer Mobile bookstores, such as The Book Nook and Paperback Parlor, make regular appearances at local destinations around Richmond, offering readers the opportunity to stumble across their new favorite book. Katie Pullman, owner of The Book Nook, set up her latest pop-up store at The Poe Museum, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m on Oct. 10. The event was a charity raffle, where a portion of the proceeds went to the museum itself.  The Book Nook is a converted trailer that carries a wide variety of novels, including some that have been banned and challenged.  “I believe that knowledge is power,” Pullman said. “People should have access to whatever resources and books that they want, especially since surrounding counties, like Hanover, are banning these kinds of books. It’s important that people are able to have access to them somewhere else.”  Sophia and Harper, 13-year-old twin sisters, said the event was an opportunity for them to explore.  “Sometimes I don’t always find what I’m looking for, but when I come across something like this it gives me a chance to discover new books, or even my new favorite book,” Sophia said. Nearby, Danielle Tawney set up Paperback Parlor,